Uncategorized

Vote of Interest – GRETh Actions 2026

2026 prioritization vote

As part of the association's operations, GRETh offers its members (1 vote per company) several projects to be carried out in 2026. Please distribute your 40 points (20 points to be distributed among the “Monitoring” topics and 20 points to be distributed among the “Software” topics, with the maximum score of 10 points on a subject) to indicate your level of interest in each of the proposed projects. Projects will be carried out in order of importance (those receiving the most points will be given priority) and within the limits of available resources.

Information

Technological and scientific watch project: Technical reports

Write technical reports on subjects associated with the diversity of member profiles:
- Operator & Engineering profile: Topics related to operation, maintenance, technological choices, measurement, best practices and feedback, etc.
- Manufacturer profile : Topics related to technological developments, intensification technologies, manufacturing processes, materials...
- R&D Profile: Topics related to scientific results, correlations and calculation methods on poorly documented transfer processes, innovations...

20 POINTS to be distributed on the 6 “Watch” topics

Number of points remaining for the 6 “Watch” topics

• Topics related to Operator & Engineering Profile :
One of the following 2 subjects will be selected and produced by GRETh teams according to the results of the vote
Details of subject 1 (click here) This publication will offer practical guidance on understanding, identifying, and activating levers for improving the thermohydraulic performance of heat exchangers in industrial facilities. The objective is to provide operators and operational engineers with simple methods for understanding and improving energy efficiency, stabilizing performance, and reducing deviations, particularly in heat recovery systems, utilities, steam/condensate circuits, industrial water cooling, air condensers, refrigeration, etc. The report will describe commonly effective adjustments and best practices: flow rate optimization, subcooling/superheating management, minimum ΔT control, hydraulic balancing, basic watch using indicators (ΔP, ΔT, efficiency, pinching), and operating trend analysis. Concrete examples and decision-making checklists will be provided to help operators structure a diagnosis, prioritize actions, and identify cases where a simple intervention has a significant impact, while also identifying situations that require further study.
Details of subject 2 (click here) This publication will analyze how heat exchangers can be designed and operated to maintain reliable performance in an industrial context marked by increasingly variable operating conditions: fluctuations in flow rates/temperatures, variations in composition, shutdown/restart phases, partial load operation, intermittent production, and changes in usage over the life of the installation. The study will focus on the impact of thermal and hydraulic margins and the ability of an exchanger to absorb operating deviations without performance issues or operational risks. It will examine the levers available to operators: hydraulic adjustments, tolerance to partial loads, progressive temperature rise/fall strategies, as well as design adaptation practices for heat exchangers to address these issues. The report will provide a critical analysis of the limitations of major exchanger technologies in the face of these fluctuating conditions and will highlight industrial examples illustrating feedback on thermohydraulic flexibility (both successful and unsuccessful). The ultimate goal is to provide clear benchmarks enabling users to identify the conditions under which an exchanger remains thermohydraulically robust, the sensitive points to anticipate, and best practices in operation and design to ensure continuity, safety, and thermal durability, even far from the nominal point.
• Topics related to Manufacturer Profile :
One of the following 2 subjects will be selected and produced by GRETh teams according to the results of the vote
Details of subject 1 (click here) This publication will provide a practical guide to choosing the right material for the intended application, without delving into expert metallurgical analysis. It will cover the common families used in heat exchangers (carbon steel, stainless steel, copper/copper alloys, aluminum, nickel alloys, titanium), their usual temperature ranges, typical operating stresses (thermal cycles, gradients, humid/moderately corrosive environments), and operational limits. The report will emphasize accessible decision-making criteria: fluid compatibility, temperature, thermal expansion, possible assembly processes (welding, brazing, diffusion bonding, joints), maintenance, cost, and alternative solutions in the event of material constraints (coatings, etc.). It will provide a checklist of choices, user feedback, and examples of common mistakes to avoid, with a view to assisting in the design and technical dialogue with the various stakeholders in a heat exchanger project.
Details of subject 2 (click here) This publication will address the main aging mechanisms encountered in heat exchangers without going into regulatory treatment or detailed mechanical strength calculations. The following will be considered: thermal fatigue, start-up/shutdown cycles, mild to moderate corrosion, and the impact of micro-leaks on performance. The aim is to provide an accessible and useful overview of key phenomena, typical critical areas (plate/tube interfaces, weld points, recirculation areas, flanges, joints, etc.) and good design practices to improve equipment robustness (thermal gradient management, choice of assembly processes, geometric details, etc.). The content will include feedback on real-life cases, signals to watch for, and recommendations for integrating the concept of thermal durability into the design phase.
• Topics related to R&D Profile :
One of the following 2 subjects will be selected and produced by GRETh teams according to the results of the vote
Details of subject 1 (click here) The purpose of this publication is to provide an operational analysis of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the field of heat exchangers, in particular language models and technical assistants (GPT, Mistral, Claude, etc.). It will show what these tools can actually do today, their limitations, and the conditions for using them safely and responsibly, in support of thermal expertise, not as a replacement for it. The document will present an overview of the main AI tools useful to thermal engineers. This overview will be illustrated with concrete examples (search for correlations, extraction and reformulation of technical information, generation of simplified calculation scripts, etc.). For each case, the report will highlight the benefits (time savings, analysis assistance, calculation structuring) as well as the risks illustrated (technical hallucinations, extrapolation outside the physical domain, dependence on data quality, confidentiality). Recommendations for use will be proposed. The objective is to provide a pragmatic guide for taking advantage of AI while preserving the scientific rigor and analytical autonomy of the thermal engineer.
Details of subject 2 (click here) This report will focus on passive heat transfer technologies based on natural phenomena of fluid transfer and movement, including natural circulation, natural convection, thermosiphons, heat pipes, and capillary loops. These systems, which operate without pumps or even active control, are experiencing renewed interest for industrial applications requiring energy efficiency, reliability, and simplicity. The report will present the physical principles that enable these devices to function, as well as a brief overview of the state of the art in existing calculation approaches and pre-dimensioning tools, reviewing traditional analytical frameworks, available simplified models, and their areas of validity. It will also highlight the current limitations of the literature in terms of detailed modeling, particularly for two-phase regimes and complex geometric configurations. Finally, it will discuss the operational advantages and constraints: sensitivity to installation conditions, difficulty of precise control, orientation or geometry constraints, and the challenges associated with their implementation on a larger industrial scale. The aim is to provide a critical and pragmatic assessment of the maturity of these solutions, suitable contexts for their use, and remaining obstacles to be overcome, in order to help manufacturers realistically evaluate the potential of passive systems in their thermal strategy.

Software project

Development, validation and enhancement of the EchTherm digital tool

20 POINTS to be distributed on the 4 “Software” topics

Number of points remaining for the 4 “Software” topics

• Topics associated with the addition of new technologies or specific features
technologies :
One of the following 2 subjects will be selected and produced by GRETh teams according to the results of the vote
Details of subject 1 (click here) Coil Wound Heat Exchanger (CWHE) technology is based on a bundle of spiral tubes wound around a central cylinder at a defined helix angle and winding pitch. It is characterized by high compactness, high pressure resistance, and excellent tolerance to thermal expansion, making it a benchmark solution for cryogenic processes and demanding applications (LNG, hydrogen, energy). This technology is already available in EchTherm in a simplified form, limited to a single coil. We propose to enhance this capability by developing a dedicated Design sheet for the common industrial multi-coil configuration, initially for single-phase flow.
Details of subject 2 (click here) Block-type welded plate heat exchanger technology is based on stacking stamped metal plates that are welded together, forming a network of highly compact interlocking channels. This design combines heat transfer intensification levels similar to those of gasketed plate heat exchangers while eliminating the limitations associated with elastomeric gaskets, allowing operation at higher pressures and temperatures. It is an attractive industrial solution for various critical applications (chemical processes, high thermal load applications, fluids incompatible with gaskets, etc.). This technology, which is well established on the market, is not yet available in EchTherm. We propose to develop a specific design sheet for these exchangers, initially for single-phase flow, in order to meet the growing engineering and sizing needs associated with this equipment.
• Topics related to the development of new functionalities :
One of the following 2 subjects will be selected and produced by GRETh teams according to the results of the vote
Details of subject 1 (click here) EchTherm now offers a sizing sheet dedicated to stirred tanks equipped with a heat exchanger, allowing for configurations with internal coils, simple double jackets, or Half-Pipe Jacket. These architectures cover the majority of common needs for temperature maintenance and product heating/cooling in various industries (agri-food, chemicals, bioprocesses, etc.). However, a commonly used technological variant, the Pillow-Plate double jacket, is not yet available in the tool. We therefore propose to enhance the existing sizing sheet by integrating this technological option, in order to cover all common industrial configurations and offer users greater flexibility in the design of stirred tank equipment with integrated heat exchangers.
Details of subject 2 (click here) Tube and shell heat exchangers are the most commonly used technology in EchTherm. Current data sheets now allow for the inclusion of conventional segmented baffles, with the “No Tube in Window” option. However, several advanced baffle architectures are frequently encountered in industry and used for thermal and hydraulic sizing, particularly in applications with high vibration constraints or requiring better flow homogeneity. These include Rod-Baffle type baffles, helical baffles, and Disk & Doughnut configurations. Each of these solutions offers specific advantages (vibration reduction, improved heat transfer, reduced pressure losses). We therefore propose to integrate these technological options into the tube and shell specifications, initially for single-phase regimes, with a target release date of 2026. This development will expand EchTherm's design capabilities and better represent the diversity of existing industrial solutions.

OTHER COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS :

You have exceeded the number of points to be awarded (20 points) on the topics of the technology and scientific watch project!

You haven't spent all 20 points on the technology and science watch project topics!

You have exceeded the number of points to be awarded (20 points) on the Software project topics!

You haven't spent all 20 points on the Software project topics !

Back to top button